Fit of Thule Passage Trunk Mount Bike Rack # TH911XT on 2013 Toyota Prius

Question:

I have seen several brands that work with previous Priuses but do not work with 2013 because of the bumper materials. I know the rear bumper plays a vital role in supporting up to 3 bikes. How well tested is this product? I dont want to damage my brand new Prius.

asked by: Michael G

Expert Reply:

According to my contact at Thule, their Passage 2 and 3-Bike Trunk Mount Bike Rack # TH910XT and # TH911XT are both a confirmed fit for the 2013 Toyota Prius. This has been determined after extensive fit testing.

This being said, anytime a piece of equipment is in direct contact with the painted surfaces of a vehicle, the possibility of the vehicle being scratched exists. This risk can be minimized by ensuring that the surfaces of the rack and vehicle that touch each other are 100 percent clean and free of grit. Ensuring that the upper straps are sufficiently tight so that all of the weight of the rack and bikes is not bearing down on the lip in front of the license plate is also very important.

If you are concerned about the possibility of the rack damaging the vehicle in any way, going with a hitch mounted solution would be your best bet. I would recommend the Draw-Tite Class I receiver, part # 24847. The hitch and bike rack manufacturers all agree that no more than two bikes can be carried on a rack installed in a Class I receiver. Adding additional bikes will move too much weight too far away from the receiver, causing additional leverage to be applied to the receiver. This additional leverage can damage the hitch or the attachment points to the vehicle.

The Swagman Trailhead, part # S63360 is a good mid-priced option. The Trailhead includes all the crucial features like an anti-rattle hitch pin to hold the rack snugly in the receiver so it will not move around. The rack also uses anti-sway cradles that will prevent the bikes from swaying back and forth and hitting each other or the rear of the vehicle.

To carry womens bikes or bikes with sharply angled top tubes or step-through frames, using a frame adapter like part # 64005 is recommended. The adapter spans the distance between the seat post and the handle bar gooseneck, and provides a level attachment point to the bike rack so the bike has greater ground clearance and is not carried at an angle.

I have linked you to the parts I recommended as well as to install details, an install video for the hitch and some product demonstration videos you might find helpful.